Lientjie Mentz
A new journey has begun at the Mediclinic Bloemfontein private hospital with the introduction of the da Vinci Robotic Surgical System as the first of its kind in private practice in central South Africa.
The first sacrocolpopexy procedure (a surgical procedure used to treat pelvic organ prolapse) was performed by Dr Do-Jo Jordaan, gynaecologist, on 8 June. She was followed by Dr Jos Myburgh, urologist, who performed the first radical prostatectomy (a surgical procedure where all or part of the prostate gland is removed) on 14 June, with the robotic surgery system.
International medical literature firmly establishes robotic-assisted surgery as the gold standard for prostatectomies, with both patients and surgeons favouring this approach.
Carol Defty, the hospital’s general manager, said at the launch of the da Vinci system on 24 June that the use of this kind of technology was without doubt the future of healthcare.
“With Mediclinic Bloemfontein providing healthcare to patients from across the central region, including the Free State, Northern Cape, Eastern Cape and Lesotho, this is an important addition to our services,” Defty said.
Jordaan, having already performed nine surgeries by the time of the launch, said the benefit of the system was multi-faceted.
“The enhanced 3D vision into the pelvis, where you work in a narrow, closed space, makes precise work possible. “The patients experience less pain, and recovery is much quicker.”
She said in eight of the nine cases the patients lost less than a teaspoon of blood during the operation.
Dr Carl Streicher, general and bariatric surgeon, performed his first right hemicolectomy (a surgical procedure to remove either the right or left side of the colon or large intestine) and abdominoperineal resection (a surgical procedure where the anus, rectum, and part of the sigmoid colon are removed to treat rectal or anal cancer); and Dr Francois Kruger, general surgeon, his first right hemicolectomy and low anterior resection (a surgical procedure to remove a portion of the rectum, typically for rectal cancer, and reconnect the remaining rectum to the colon).
Dr Rachel Moore, chief medical officer (CMO) at Mediclinic Southern Africa, confirms this is one of three da Vinci robotic surgical systems that was implemented across the group in South Africa. The other three are in Mediclinic Vergelegen, Mediclinic Kloof and Mediclinic Durbanville.
Other surgeons in Bloemfontein have already started the long training process they need to undergo before they can use the new system.
Urologists Dr Aubrey Coetzer and Dr Willem Dahms will be trained and accredited in the next few months.
Each surgeon practises with the simulator for up to 40 or 50 hours before they start operating with a proctor.
Only after the intensive training is concluded, are surgeons allowed to use the da Vinci system.
According to Defty staff and assisting doctors have also been trained. Depending on the type of surgery, surgeons were trained in different countries, including France, Turkey, the United Kingdom and Germany.
The opportunities that the system hold are endless, including operations that can be conducted from outside the theatre and even from elsewhere in the world.
Defty has confirmed that all surgery with the da Vinci system is not yet covered by medical aid, but this is sure to change.
“We are very excited about the opportunities created by the use of this new technology. It is all about the patient,” Defty mentioned at the launch.
